Can-opening device.



E. L. OBERG. CAN OPENING-DEVICE. APPLICATION rILEIJ'APR. 2c, 1912.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

{LII

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL L. OBERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAN-OPENING DEVICE."

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMIL L. Ommo, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings city and State of New York, have invente new and useful Improvements in Can-Opening Devices, of which the followin is aspecification. 7

his invention relates to' an improved can opening device, and is in the nature of a combined can opener and a cover to serve as a covering for the can. when the head or end has been removed, and it is the object of the invention to provide an improved device of this character which is simple and cheap in construction, and eflicient in operation.

In carrying out my invent-ion I provide a. cover having two different diameters, thus providing an annular flange or shoulder portion to rest and support the cover upon the top of thecan, and a portion to snugly fit around the sides of the can, a bail or handle being connected to the portion of the cover of smaller diameter whereby to manipulate the cover in the operation ofthe cutter and also to place the cover upon and remove it from the can. The cutter is releasably secured to the inside of the cojver adjacent to the handle, with the, cutting' edge projecting down below the flange portionthe securlng means for the handle also serving 'to secure the cutter. This device may also be provided with means to support the head of the can during the cutting operation and to prevent the dropping of the head into the can after it has been cut.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a sect onal elevation of my improved can opening device applied to a can and showing the operation of cutting the end or head thereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved can opening device looking from the side and bottom. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cutter. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the cover and the can to illustrate the manner to securely retain the cover on the can; and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of my improved opening device without the support for the head of the can during the cutting operation.

Similar characters of reference designate like arts throughout the different views of the rawings.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a cover of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application area April 26; 1912. Serial No. 893,357.

Patented Dec. 24,1912.

two different diameters, as shown at 6 and 7 to provide an annular flange or shoulder 8 whereby the cover is supported upon the top of the can, designated in a general way by 9, wlth the portion 7 projecting down and embracing the sides of the can. A handle or bail 10 of sheet metal with the ends bent at right angles is secured to the outer sides of the smaller portion of the cover, as at 11, 12, with the ends abutting against the shoulder 8. i i

A knife or cutter 13 is releasably secured to the inner wall of the smaller portionpf the cover adjacent to one end of the handle, the means. 12 to secure said end of the handle, which may consist of screws, also serving to secure the cutter in place. The 4 cover is placed over the end of the can and by applying pressure to the handle the cutter is forced through the end or head of the-can. Rotary motion is then imparted to the cover by the handle, the engagement. of the cover portion 7 with the sides of the can preventing any lateral movement of the cover and as the cover is rotated the knife cutting the can. The ends of the handle abutting against'the shoulder 8 firmly maintains the cover on the can during the cutting operation. -After the top of the can has been removed the opening device may serve as a removable cover for the can.

As is well known the diameters ofcans of any standard make, such as condensed milk cans, etc., vary, and in order that the cover will fit snugly and be retained on the can I'provide the portin 8 of the cover embracing the sides of the can with indentations or corrugations'f15. By this construction the outer edge of said portion 8 will'be of greater. diameter than the circle described by the projections which may be slightlyv To support the head of the can during the cutting operation and to prevent'the same from dropping into the can after it hasbeen' cut, I provide a headedplunger 19 aassi'ng through an aperture hr the han 1e and guided in a bushing 20 in the top of the cover. The lower end. of-the plunger is pointed and has adjacent to such. point one ormore convolutions of a thread 22, which.

. thereof readily passing through the head of the can and by giving the plunger one .or more turns the screw threads 22 will. firmly engage the metal of the head, and the spring 23 always exerting an upward pull on theplunger and will pull the head away from the can after it is cut. After'the head-of the can has been entirely out the cover. is removed and by giving a-reverse rotation to the plunger the head of the can can be readily released.

Variations may be resorted to Within the scope of my invention, andportions of the. improvements may be used Without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A can opening device, comprising a cover having two different diameters whereby to form a flange to support the coverv upon the'top of a can with a portion embracing the sides of the can; a-ha'ndle secured to the portion of the cover of smaller diameter with the ends abutting against the flange; a cutter secured to the inner wall of the portion of the cover of smaller diameter adjacent to one end of the handle, having a double cutting edge projecting beyond the flange portion of the cover; and means to releasably secure the cutter, said means also L serving to secure one end of the handle.

.2. A can opening device, comprising a cover having two difl'erent diameters whereby to form a flange to support the cover upon the top of a can with a portion em-' bracing the sides of the can; a handle secured to the portion of the cover of smaller diameter with the ends abutting against the flange; a cutter secured to the inner wall of the portion of. the coverv of smaller diameter adjacent to ene' 'end of the handle, having a double cuttingedge projecting down beyond the flange portion of the cover; means to releasably secure the cutter, said means also serving to secure one end of the handle; and

corrugations extending around the portion of the cover of larger diameter, such corrugations commencing at a point within the co ies of this patent may be obtained for edge. of. such portion of the cover, substantially as and for the purpose spec111ed.

' 3. A can opening device, comprising a cover having two diiferent diameters Whereby to form a flange to support the cover upon the top'of a can with a portioneinserving to secure one end of the handle; and

means to support the head of the can during the cutting operation and to prevent it from dropping into the can after it has been cut.

4. A can opening device, comprising. a cover having two different diameters whereby to form a flange to support the cover upon the top of a can with a portlon embracin the sides of the can;- a handle secured o the portion of the cover of smaller diameter with the ends abutting against the flange; a cutter secured to the inner wall of the portion of the cover of smaller diameter adjacentto one end of the handle, having a double cutting edge projecting down beyond the flange portion of the cover; means to releasably secure the cutter, said means also serving to secure one end of the handle; and means to support the head of the can during the cutting operation and to prevent it from dropping into the can after it has been cut, comprising a headed plunger passing through I an aperture in the handle and guided in a bushing in the cover, such plunger provided with a point at its end and one or more convolutions of a screw thread adjacent to the point, and a spring to normally maintain the plunger in its raised position. j j

5. A can opening device, comprising a cover having two different diameters,-as 6 and 7, an intermediate shoulder 8, whereby to support the cover upon the can, the por tion of the cover of larger diameterprovided with corrugations 15; a handle 10 secured to the part 6 with its ends abutting. against the shoulder 8; and a cutter 13 releasably se cured to the inner wall of the portion Gadfl 1 .115

acent to one end of the handlewith its cut-'. ting edge projecting down beyond the shoulj der 8, substantially as and for the purpose specified. I

Witnesses Jenn 0.- human, AUG. DORNANDER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of 2 s Washington, D. 0. 

